IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) examinations are not just extremely advantageous, but very important for those who want to go to study abroad or apply for a job in some foreign organizations.
(Courtesy: Eng.Azaiez Abdelmounem - WordPress.com)
Both of these examinations are for evaluating a candidate’s English language proficiency and are accepted as a qualification in almost all the English-speaking countries.
The main difference between the two tests is that while IELTS is for the countries where British-English is spoken, TOEFL is for the American-English speaking countries.
So it is entirely your call which exam do you want to take.
Another difference between the two is in the test format. IELTS constitutes of a one-on-one interview with the examiner on the basis of which your conversational skills are evaluated. In TOEFL, there is a computer-based test, in which you converse not with a person but with a recorded audio clip. Your conversation, in this case, is recorded and then evaluated by a team of experts.
These exams also help you in procuring visa from government agencies in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada. Refer to the following table for more information:
(Courtesy:studyabroad.careers360.com)
Also read - How to prepare IELTS exam?